KR101095617B1 - Method and arrangement for use of shared resources in a network - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for controlling the dispatch of a job from a client from a server to a shared resource in a network that includes a request to send a job to a shared resource selected by the client is received from the client, the resource being available and the job being executed in a short time. It is constantly checked whether it has the capacity to receive. If the resource is available and has short processing time, a progress signal is immediately sent to the client, allowing the client to send a job to the resource. If a resource is available only for a momentary shortage, the request is arranged in the queue for the resource, the queue is constantly updated, and when the request goes to the first place in the queue, the client works on the resource. A progress signal capable of transmitting the message is transmitted to the client. Receiving the request is performed by assigning an identity to a task sent to the client, which is included in the progress signal sent to the client so that the client can identify the task from the identity. An acknowledgment that the job was successfully completed by the resource or an indication of the fact that the job was successfully completed by the resource is received from the client, and then the request is removed from the queue.

Description

METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR USE OF SHARED RESOURCES IN A NETWORK}

The present invention relates to a technique for using a shared resource in a network by a client connected to the network. In particular, this technology is designed, but not exclusively, for the purpose of sending print jobs from clients directly to printers connected to the network.

Specifically, the present invention provides a method for controlling and monitoring a use of a shared resource by a client connected to a network from a server, a computer program product for executing the method for controlling and monitoring the use, and controlling the use of the shared resource. And a server on which the computer program product is installed for executing a monitoring method, a method of using a shared resource in a network by a client, a computer program product for executing a method of using the shared resource, and a method of using the shared resource. And a network comprising at least one of said plurality of client terminals and said server.

The conventional network printing system is based on a main memory device for a print job on a server. In the network, a client sends each print job to a print server, receives a print job, processes a print job, and prints a print job for printing. It also includes sending to the printer.

1 shows an example of such a network. The network includes a number of client or user computers 101 connected to a client network 105 with a number of printers 103. The client network 105 is optionally connected in turn to the server network 107 via the router 109. The server network 107 includes, in particular, a number of central print servers 111 that monitor and control print jobs from the client 101 and transmit them to the printer 103.

The client sends a print job to one of the print servers 111, which is schematically represented by arrow 113. The amount of data transferred is typically three times larger than when the corresponding file is on the client's local hard disk drive. When a print job reaches print server 111, the print job is locally spooled to the print server's hard disk drive, which requires storage space for the server. When the print server 111 spools a print job onto the correct print queue (ie, the queue for the selected printer) and when the current print job is time to print, the print server 111 prints the print job. To the selected printer, which is schematically represented by arrow 115.

As shown in FIG. 1, the print job is not transmitted to the printer at the shortest distance, but is bypassed through the print server 111.

WO 99/38068 describes a job token printer assignment system for a print job, wherein the client sends a token to the print server that contains the profile of the print job to be printed. The print server analyzes the token, determines the appropriate printer for the print job, and returns the selected printer token to the client, which includes the network address and name of the selected printer. The client then sends the print job accompanied by the selected printer token to the appropriate printer. In this way, the print job is assigned by the print server to a printer suitable for the print job.

The inventors of the present invention have problems with the above concept of using a print server in which a plurality of print queues and a plurality of print jobs that can be processed by each print server are limited to the server's memory capacity, processing capacity and storage space. I realized that there is. When the print server is heavily loaded, the print job is slow.

Large networks require multiple print servers, which include increased costs in the form of hardware, software, operation and maintenance.

Another problem with known print server designs is that print jobs are sent twice over the network. That is, one time is sent from the computer to the print server, and the other time is sent from the print server to the printer to be printed. This implies an increased need for bandwidth that may be required, which is expensive, especially in large networks or networks with high print frequencies.

The job token printer assignment system described in WO 99/38068 actually solves the problem of sending the print job twice over the network. The print server does not have to spool a large print job, but is only needed to identify the features contained in the token from the client and assign the print job to the appropriate printer. The system described in WO 99/38068 appears to be related to a system for editing and the like, in which a large number of prints of books and the like are executed and no flexibility for printing is required. For example, the system described in WO 99/38068 does not allow a client to select one printer among many printers, and cannot analyze the selected printer to see if the selected printer has instant print capability. The system does not manage the processing of print queues, nor does it control printing depending on how print jobs progress to other queues. In addition, the system does not have the ability to process several print jobs from the client at the same time, and in particular, even if the print job is completed, there is no ability to monitor how the print job is actually executed.

In addition, the inventors of the present invention have realized that similar problems generally occur when shared resources are used between networks. For example, when a device for storing data on a data storage medium in a network is, for example, a CD or DVD recorder (writing device), and a job is sent to a recording shared resource, control and management are similar to those of the print server described above. It can run from the server, which causes the same kind of problem. In addition, shared resources are connected to the network in such a way that a single client uses the resource only once, so that no queues exist.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to send a job from a client connected to a network to a device for storing data on a shared resource selected by the client, on a particular printer, fax machine, projector or storage medium. As a technique for the purpose, it is to provide a technique without the above-mentioned problems and limitations.

In this respect, a unique object of the present invention is to provide a technique for directly and flexibly sending a job from a client connected to a network without fear of failing the job.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple, robust and reliable technique.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a technique using a minimum of hardware and software capable of simultaneously processing a task in a large network and a network using a lot of shared resources.

Still another object of the present invention is a method for controlling and managing a job from a server connected to a network to a shared resource selected by the client from a server connected to the network, a computer program product for executing the method, the program It is to provide a technology using a server and a client terminal in which the product is installed, and a network including the server and the client terminal.

These objects are achieved according to the invention by a method, a computer program product, a server, a client terminal and a network according to the appended claims.

Ticket-based centralized server systems are used to control the sending of work to clients and their shared resources. The technique is unique because the program that controls the flow of work resides on both the client and the centralized ticket server. The program starts and stops the use of shared resources by the client, and the flow of work is controlled from the ticket server.

A unique identity is assigned to a job by the server, which notifies the client of the unique identity. As a result, the client can start several jobs immediately after each one to be executed by the shared resource, which are processed separately by the ticket server.

An acknowledgment that each job was successfully completed by the shared resource or an indication that the job was not successfully performed by the shared resource is received by the ticket server from the client, after which the corresponding request is removed from the queue.

Preferably, in the use of the shared resource by the client, repeatedly updated status information regarding completion of the work by the shared resource, i.e., the absence of such updated status information in the ticket server, may result in an operation error at the client or between the client and the ticket server. Indicates a communication error in communication. This triggers the ticket server, checking the status to warn of problems or changing the status for jobs and / or shared resources. The job may or may not be removed from the queue. Since the server may be equipped with a timer, different actions may be triggered by different delays.

By using a ticket based system, network usage is greatly limited in contrast to the case where the network is used twice.

The technique of the present invention also reduces the load on the centralized server by the fact that the client processes the usage and sends the data directly to the shared resource, instead of sending the data to the server sending the data back to the shared resource.

In addition, ticket-based initiatives include improved ability to change the priority of tasks. For example, if a job is interrupted before providing a green signal (permission signal), the job does not need to be sent to the network at all, as opposed to known techniques in which the sending of a print job is always sent from the client to the print server.

In addition, the proposed scheme allows the use of the remaining capacity and parallelism capabilities present in today's clients, typically personal computers. In many large office environments, powerful personal computers are used for simple processing such as e-mail processing, word processing and internet browsing. These computers are well suited for basic communication with ticket servers, and green signals from ticket servers initiate the dispatch of jobs to shared resources.
That is, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention for achieving the object of the present invention, a method for controlling and monitoring, by a server, the sending of a job from a client connected to a network to a shared resource connected to the network, a) receiving a request signal from the client connected to the network to allow transmission of a job to a selected shared resource connected to the network; And (b) continuously checking whether a shared resource connected to the network is accessible and has a capacity to receive a current job, wherein the selected shared resource is accessible; If it has the capacity to receive the current job, the progress signal is immediately sent to the client which can directly send the job to the selected shared resource, and the shared resource connected to the network is accessible, If the capacity is insufficient, the request signal is placed in a queue for the selected shared resource, the queue is continuously updated, the request signal is advanced to the first position in the queue, and the selected shared resource Direct to the selected shared resource when it has capacity to receive the job A progress signal is transmitted to a client capable of transmitting a specific job, and if the selected shared resource is inaccessible, the client is notified of inaccessibility, and after receiving the request signal (step (a)), (c) The step of assigning an identity to the task is followed, wherein the identity is notified to the client, and the identity is included in a progress signal sent to the client capable of direct transmission of the task to the selected shared resource, thereby providing an identity to the identity. Allow the client to identify the job based on confirmation of the fact that the job was successfully completed by the shared resource or an indication of the fact that the job was not successfully completed by the shared resource from the client. The request signal is then removed from the queue. It is characterized by the fact that.
Preferably, updated status information regarding completion of the work by the shared resource is repeatedly received from the client, when the progress signal is transmitted to the client, and when the work is successfully completed by the shared resource. Between the confirmation of the fact or an indication of the fact that the operation has not been successfully completed by the shared resource, it is repeatedly received from the client, wherein the absence of the updated status information is an error in the operation of the client. Or a communication error in communication between the client and the server.
Preferably, the acknowledgment that the assigned identity has been received by the client is characterized in that the server receives.
Preferably, the acknowledgment that the progress signal was received by the client is characterized in that the server receives.
Preferably, the acknowledgment signal is characterized in that the acknowledgment signal that the job will be sent directly to the shared resource or will be transmitted in the future.
Preferably, the shared resource is a printer, characterized in that the job is a print job.
Preferably, the shared resource is a transmitter, a display unit, or a device for storing data, and the job is a job for transmitting, displaying or storing data.
Preferably, the information about the state of the shared resource is characterized in that transmitted to the client.
Advantageously, a version of client software for a client relating to communication with the selected shared resource is stored, information about a version of the client software is received from the client, and various versions of the client software are sent to the server. And if the result of the comparison is that the stored client software is newer than the client software used by the client, a copy of the stored client software is sent to or installed on the client.
Preferably, the information about the version of the client software used by the client is received with a request signal to allow transmission of the job to the selected shared resource.
Advantageously, the request signal to allow transmission of the job to the selected shared resource includes a user domain for the client and a user identity, and wherein the client has authentication to send the job to the selected shared resource. And if the client does not have an authorization to send a job to the selected shared resource, an error code is sent to the client.
Advantageously, if the client has authentication to allow transmission of the job to the selected shared resource, then the client is checked to have a user priority, and the request signal is determined according to the user priority of the client. Characterized in the queue.
Preferably, the size information of the job is received from the client.
Preferably, when the confirmation signal that the assigned identity has been received by the client is received by the server, the information of the size of the job is received together with the confirmation signal that the assigned identity has been received. .
Preferably, the status of the shared resources in the network is characterized in that it is constantly checked.
Preferably, information on the status of shared resources, information on queues, and information on clients and jobs in the network are continuously copied to a second server that controls and monitors the dispatch of jobs.
According to another aspect of the present invention for achieving the object of the present invention, a computer-readable recording medium having a downloadable computer program in a built-in memory of a server, when the computer program is executed in the server, according to claim 1 And a computer program comprising software code portions for carrying out the described method.
The downloaded computer program may be stored in a server.
According to another aspect of the present invention for achieving the object of the present invention, a method for sending a job from a client connected to a network to a shared resource selected by the client from among several shared resources connected to the network, Transmitting a request signal to a server that controls and monitors the sending of a job to a shared resource connected to the network to allow direct transmission of the job to the selected shared resource connected to the network. The server assigns an identity to the task, thereby placing the request signal in a queue for the selected shared resource, continuously updating the queue, and then updating the selected shared resource. To provide a progress signal to the client when the job is sent to Transmitting a request signal; (B) receiving a message of the identity from the server; (C) preparing and storing the work; (D) receiving a progress signal from the server that allows the task to be sent to the selected shared resource, wherein the progress signal identifies the identity that allows the task to be identified based on the identity. Receiving the above progress signal from the server; (E) directly transmitting a job to the selected shared resource; And (F) receiving from the selected shared resource an acknowledgment of the fact that the task was successfully completed by the shared resource or an indication of the fact that the task was not successfully completed by the shared resource, And sending the confirmation or indication to the server so that the request signal can be removed.
Preferably, the updated status information regarding the completion of the work by the shared resource is repeatedly transmitted to the server, and receiving the progress signal from the server (step D), and the work is transmitted to the shared resource. An acknowledgment of successful completion by the shared resource or an indication that the operation was not successfully completed by the shared resource is repeatedly transmitted to the server between steps (step F) received from the shared resource and returned to the server, wherein In the absence of the updated status information on the server is indicative of an operation error of the client or a communication error in communication between the client and the server.
Preferably, the acknowledgment that the message of the assigned identity has been received is characterized in that transmitted to the server.
Preferably, an acknowledgment signal indicating that a progress signal capable of transmitting the job to the selected shared resource is received.
Preferably, the acknowledgment signal that the progress signal has been received is characterized in that the task is a confirmation signal sent to or will be transmitted to the shared resource.
Preferably, the shared resource is a printer, characterized in that the job is a print job.
Preferably, the shared resource is a transmitter, a display unit, or a device for storing data, and the job is a job for transmitting, displaying or storing data.
Preferably, information about client software that the client uses to communicate with the selected shared resource is transmitted to the server, and a copy of the client software stored by the server is greater than the version number of the client software that the client is using. If it has a more recent version number, the copy is received from the server.
Preferably, the information about the version of the client software used by the client is transmitted to the server with the request signal to allow the transmission of the job to the selected shared resource.
Advantageously, said request signal to allow transmission of a job to said selected shared resource includes a user domain and a user identity for said client, and wherein said client authenticates to send the job to said selected shared resource. If not, an error code is received from the server.
Preferably, the size information of the job is transmitted to the server.
Preferably, when an acknowledgment that the message of the assigned identity has been received is transmitted to the server, information of the size of the job is transmitted to the server together with an acknowledgment that the assigned identity has been received. do.
The invention furthermore comprises a computer readable recording medium having a computer program downloadable in an internal memory of a server, the computer program comprising software code portions for executing the method when the computer program is executed on the server. It is possible to provide a computer readable recording medium having a program.
At this time, the computer program may be downloaded to the client terminal.
In addition, a network system including the server and the plurality of client terminals is possible.

Further advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention and the accompanying drawings, which are provided only for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

1 is a view schematically showing a network in which a printing technique according to the prior art is implemented.

2 schematically illustrates a network in which an embodiment of the invention is practiced.

Brief description of Figure 2:

2-1. The client sends a request to the print server for the job ID to print on the selected printer.

2-2. When the ticket server has all the information about the status of the printer in the database in real time, and the selected printer is activated on the network, the ticket server sends the job ID to the client.

2-3. The client receives the job ID and executes printing on the printer.

2-4. Up to 20Kb data can be transferred between the client and the ticket server.

3 to 7 are flowcharts showing other aspects of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

3 brief description:

3-1. Transfer order, DLL version, print driver version, printer name, user name, and user domain.

3-2. If something is too long, check to see the information received in step 3-1, or if user does not have access to print, go to step 3-4.

3-3. Enter the data received in step 3-1 into the database, retrieve the unique value generated by the SQL server, and send it back to the client.

3-4. Read the error code and check what is involved, and if there is a long version, fetch a newer version. After running the update, ask the user to reprint. If the user does not have access to printing on the selected printer, the user can perform an interactive (interactive) selection that allows the user to choose what is done with the printing (ie, cancel or move to another printer).

3-5. Receive Job ID.

3-6. Send order, IP address, number of pages, size of print job, job identification, paper version front end and file version configuration.

3-7. Processing data.

3-8. Update the information for print jobs in the database and send a confirmation to the client.

3-9. Do not allow users to access it?

3-10. Provides the user possibility to move a print job to another printer or cancel the job completely. If the user chooses to move the print job to another printer, the client starts again from step 3-1.

3-11. Is the client too old?

3-12. After fetching a new version of the client, restart the client when the client runs as a service.

3-13. If the print driver version is too old, update the print driver and start the client.

3-14. Shut down TCP / IP connections without NAT.

Brief description of FIG. 4.

4-1. Transmission order, job ID, and error code required to cancel the print job.

4-2. Data processing.

4-3. Cancel a print job from the database and send the job cancel to the client.

4-4. Cancel a job from disk / memory.

Brief description of FIG. 5.

5-1. The server requests an interrupt for a print job.

5-2. Change the status of print jobs in the database to "interrupt".

5-3. Sends a sequence to request the client to cancel the print job.

5-4. Cancel a print job and tell the printer that the job has been canceled from the client.

5-5. Data processing

5-6. Cancel a print job from the database.

Brief description of FIG. 6.

6-1. Fetch the first job (stored after the oldest job and prioritized) from the print queue.

6-2. The most important job for printing.

6-3. To start printing, the sequence number to be sent, the job ID, the printer IP address, and the function convey the information used for printing to the client.

6-4. Can printing begin?

6-5. Data processing.

6-6. Update job status to "Print".

6-7. Are there multiple attempts greater than the maximum number of attempts allowed?

6-8. After waiting a predetermined number of seconds, the process proceeds to 6-4.

6-9. An error code is sent to the server. For example, the client cannot connect to the printer.

6-10. Data processing.

6-11. Update the information in the database according to the information received from the client, and check the printer by the daemon controlling the printer.

6-12. Can printing be done without any error from the printer?

6-13. Data processing.

6-14. It can then be used to move the information in the print job to separate the tables in the database to generate statistics and possible invoice information.

6-15. Send error code to server.

6-16. Data processing.

6-17. Update the information in the database and the most important information that is likely to fail, and check the printer by the daemon controlling the printer.

Brief description of FIG.

7-1. Did you stop the queue for action?

7-2. Informatization of supported configurations.

7-3. Informationizes all clients with print jobs waiting on a printer that is not working.

7-4. Displays a dialog box for the client to cancel the job, move the job to another printer, or wait for the printer to resume.

7-5. Do you want the client to remove the job?

7-6. Data processing.

7-7. Cancel work from the database.

7-8. Do you want the client to move the job to another printer?

7-9. Did the client access print on the selected printer?

7-10. Does the selected printer work?

7-11. The client waits for the printer to start reactivation.

7-12. Move the print job to the selected queue.

7-13. Inform the user that the user does not have access to printing on the selected printer, and start again from step 7-4.

In the following description for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth such as specific applications, techniques, and methods in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be readily practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific details. In order not to obscure the detailed description of the invention in unnecessary detail, detailed descriptions of other cases of known methods, protocols, devices or circuits are omitted.

The detailed description is divided into five different parts, the first part of which generally describes the main features of the technique for printing directly on a network according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Then, each is followed by a detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the ticket server and client. Then, another alternative to the printer used as a shared resource according to the present invention is described. Finally, a number of advantages over the technology are listed.

1. General description of techniques for printing directly from a network in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention

In Fig. 2, an example of a network is shown and the printing technique according to the invention is carried out. The network includes a number of client or user computers 201 connected to a client network 205 with a number of printers 203. The client network 205 is in turn connected to the server network 207, optionally via a router 209. The server network 207 includes, in particular, a ticket server 211 that monitors and controls printing from the client 201 to the printer 203.

Printing is performed according to the following. The client wishing to print on the selected printer sends a request to the ticket server 211 to obtain a green signal (permission signal), and prints a print job to the printer. If the printer is available and activated, i.e., can receive a print job, the ticket server 211 sends a progress signal to the client, and the client receives the progress signal and sends the print job directly to the printer selected for printing. To this end, the ticket server 211 monitors the printer and has information on whether the printer is active or inactive when occupied by a print job on the network from the same client or another client.

When the printer is occupied, the request signal is placed in a queue by the ticket server 211. This queue is constantly updated, and when the print job is next printed, the ticket server 211 sends a progress signal to a client capable of sending the print job directly to the printer for printing.

In FIG. 2, the double-headed arrow 213 represents the signaling between the ticket server 211 and one of the clients 201, while the arrow 215 represents the transmission of a print job from the client to the selected printer 201. .

Print jobs are assigned identically, which are sent to the client, which can associate the identity with the print job. Then, when the ticket server 211 sends a progress signal to the client (if the client activates some print jobs), the identity is included here so that the client can send the correct print job to the printer. The acknowledgment that the assigned identity has been received by the client may be sent back to the ticket server 211.

In addition, when the client receives a progress signal for printing, the client may transmit a confirmation signal to the ticket server 211. This confirmation may include an indication that the print job will be sent or sent by the client. In addition, the confirmation when the print job is completed may be transmitted from the client to the ticket server 211 or when the print job is not completed successfully, and this indication may be sent from the client to the server before the server requests a request from the queue. Can be removed

Preferably, updated status information relating to the completion of the print job is transmitted from the client to the ticket server 211, in particular on a regular basis, and at the same time printing is activated, and the absence of such updated status information at the ticket server 211 ( That is, if the time between two status updates is exceeded, it indicates that an operation error of the client or a communication error (program error or network error) in the combination between the client and the ticket server 211 occurs. This triggers the ticket server to check the status (eg, check the printer), noting the problem or changing the status of the job and / or the printer. The job may or may not be moved from the queue. The server can be equipped with a timer so that different actions can be triggered by different delays. If an error is displayed, the administrator of the system is notified.

In addition, information about the status of the printer may be transmitted from the ticket server 211 to the client to update the client. More explanation on this continues below.

The amount of data transferred between the client and the ticket server 211 is typically up to 20 kb (in an enhanced version by the application described in detail below), which creates the possibility to store a lot of bandwidth while simultaneously allowing the network to Although extensive, the ticket server 211 is focused on a site only in the network.

2. Detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the ticket server

Detailed description of the ticket server for controlling and monitoring the transmission of print jobs from a client to a printer according to the present invention follows. In this and the following, it should be noted that the functionality and communication of the invention between the server and the client are described. Referring to the flow charts of Figs. 3-7, they are appropriately shown in parentheses (the steps in the flow chart are provided in numerals corresponding to reference numerals followed by dashed lines and serial numbers).

The ticket server includes the following parts.

□ computer

□ Database

□ Program that receives print job requests from clients

□ Program to handle print queues

□ Program or server daemon that checks the printer status

□ Printers, OS / 2, and DOS clients that share software to create files and executable windows

□ Program for copying data between multiple ticket servers
Preferably, information about the status of shared resources, information about queues, and information about clients and jobs is continuously copied to another second server that controls and monitors the dispatch of jobs.

In the following description, it is assumed that the network is a network based on TCP / IP. After the modification, the invention is clearly applicable to all kinds of networks.

Printing: first step (Fig. 3)

Initialization of printing is performed by the client. When the ticket server receives a message from the client with a request for a print job, the ticket server receives the following data from the client (step 3-1).

□ Sequence Number

□ Version number

□ Operating system

□ Printer driver version

□ Printer Name

□ User Domain

□ User Name

When the server reads the information sent by the client, a sanitary check of the client data, i.e. whether the information has been checked according to the following rules (step 3-2), and if there is an error, an error code is generated. (Step 3-4, Step 3-9 to Step 3-13).

Check whether the received data is complete. This is not the case when an error code is sent to a client requesting information. If the client software is out of date, the client can upgrade that client software. In this case, an error code for this is transmitted. It also checks whether the printer driver used by the client is in some way inappropriate. For example, bugs or the like can be found in the driver and changed immediately. Then, an error code for this is transmitted. Finally, it is checked whether the user has accessed printing on the printer (steps 3-9). This is not the case when an error code is sent to a client requesting to select a different printer.

When an error code is transmitted, it is transmitted as follows.

□ Sequence number (corresponding to the error code to be sent)

□ Error code

An error is logged and printing is attempted normally so that no further action is taken from part of the server, but a new print attempt is generated by the client.

If all the information is correct, the server enters the information into the database and receives the unique identifier back from the database (step 3-3). This is used after communication between the client and server. Also, to inform the client that a print job is noticed, the print job is " marked " with this identifier (since the client can process several print jobs at the same time, the client can send an inappropriate print job to the inappropriate printer). To prevent this, it has an identifier for each print job.).

The identifier is sent back to the client in the following order.

□ Sequence Number

□ Job ID (ID above)

When the client receives the sequence (steps 3-5), it sends back data describing the print job in more detail (steps 3-6). The information received from the client is as follows.

□ Sequence Number

□ IP address of client

□ number of pages

□ Number of bytes (size of print job)

The received data is processed by the server (steps 3-7), and the information of the print job is updated in the database (steps 3-8).

The client's IP-address is sent to the server to determine whether the client is a so-called Network Address Translation (NAT) network. After this is done, it is sometimes very difficult to reestablish the connection in the other direction. In other words, if the client is a NAT network, it runs from the server to the client. If this is the case, the connection will remain open until all communication regarding the print job is completed (ie, all steps of this detailed description are executed). Normally, that is, if the client is not a NAT network, the connection is closed between different sessions to achieve optimal printing techniques without any unnecessary signaling that may be overhead.

The number of pages and number of bytes are collected in part to know how large print jobs are sent and to register statistical inferences.

The server responds to the client in order, telling the client that the server is ready and the client has to wait for further information from the server.

The procedure is as follows.

□ Sequence Number

The connection between the client and the server is then closed unless the client is a NAT network as shown above.

Printing: Second Step (Figure 6)

The server constantly queries the database for new print jobs. This is done by first running a search, looking for printers on the network, which have print jobs in the queue, and then each queue is analyzed to find all print jobs in the queue for each printer. This information is then sorted when the time stamp, that is, the print job arrives at the server. The FIFO principle (first in first out) is preferably used. That is, the oldest print job is processed first. Print jobs may also be classified using other kinds of priorities. That is, if a print job has a higher priority than another job in the queue, the print job with the higher priority is moved before the print job with the lower priority in the queue.

The server daemon that monitors the printer's status on the network is described at the end of this section.

When the server recognizes a print job to be printed, the print job is withdrawn from the print queue (step 6-1) and displayed as printing (step 6-2). The server then retrieves the information of the printer to which the print job will be printed. The server retrieves information from different parts of the database. The IP-addresses for the printer and those kinds of mechanisms to be used to send print jobs from the client to the printer are aggregated. Also, information is retrieved from a part of another database in which the state of the printer is stored. Status is collected by the daemon that controls the printer.

If the status of the printer is something other than OK, the sequence is sent to the client, telling the printer that it is not working, so that the client can cancel the print job and select another printer or wait for the printer to resume. do.

The order of transmission is then as follows.

□ Sequence Number

□ Error code

If the printer is activated, that is, operated and accessible, the server sends the following information to the client (step 6-3).

□ Sequence Number

□ Job ID (unique identifier)

□ IP address of the printer

□ printing mechanism

The client responds in order to confirm the start of printing, and notifies that printing has started (step 6-4).

If the printer cannot be accessed and another sequence is sent (steps 6-9), it can be attempted after several failures (steps 6-7 and 6-8).

When printing starts successfully, the order is transmitted as follows.

□ Sequence Number

On the other hand, if printing cannot be started, the following procedure is transmitted.

□ Sequence Number

□ Error code (reason for cause)

When the server receives a response from the client, it checks the order (steps 6-5 and 6-10). When printing starts successfully, the server updates the status of the print job in the database to "printing" (steps 6-6). On the other hand, if the print job cannot be started, information about the printer is updated to recognize that the daemon monitoring the printer should immediately check the printer (steps 6-11). The connection between the server and the client is closed.

In printing, a method of receiving from the client the updated status information described above with reference to FIG. 2 is used (not shown here).

After successful printing, the following sequence is received from the client (steps 6-12).

□ Sequence Number

□ Job ID

The received data is processed at the server (step 6-13), and the information of the successfully completed print job can be moved to separate the tables in the database, which can then be used to generate statistics and possible invoice information (step 6-13). -14).

If printing is not completed, the order is received from the client as follows (steps 6-15).

□ Sequence Number

□ Job ID

□ Error code

The server processes the received data (steps 6-16), updates the information in the database, and marks the print job as failed. In addition, information about the printer is updated to notify that the daemon monitoring the printer should immediately check the printer (steps 6-17).

The server may simultaneously print a plurality of print jobs on the printer depending on the size of the print job and the memory or storage capacity of the problematic printer. The server may monitor the number of print jobs and / or byte sizes of print jobs active on a particular printer.

At any time, the server may temporarily interrupt (interrupt) the print job (step 5-1 in Fig. 5). Then, the status of the print job is changed to "removing" from the database (step 5-2), and the server contacts the client to convey that the print job has been canceled, and then confirms the cancellation. The following procedure is sent from the server to the client (step 5-3).

□ Sequence Number

□ Job ID

When the client cancels the print job, it responds by sending back the following procedure (step 5-4).

□ Sequence Number

The server processes the data (steps 5-5) and cancels the print job from the database (steps 5-6).

It should be noted that information about the client and their print jobs, information about the handling and updating of the print queue, and information about the normal printer status is received from the client according to the above description. Nevertheless, the server communicates directly with the printer to obtain their additional information and to verify the information received from the client. This will be described in more detail below.

Check status of the printer

The server daemon constantly checks the status of the printer. This is done by sending SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) queries to each printer. The received information is as follows.

□ Printer Status

□ Toner Information (Laser Printer)

□ Paper Information

The information checked depends on what the printer model supports. Often, more information may be retrieved. For example, when the printer drum of the laser printer is replaced, a paper or the like is caught.

If the printer status is inactive, i.e. "offline", the server daemon should check the cause for this by checking whether the paper is jammed, whether the toner is empty, or whether the drum needs to be replaced.

The status of the printers in the database is updated "offline", and the client with the print job is not run by the server daemon, and the server daemon has the possibility of the client moving the print job to queue or cancel the print job. You are notified.

The information may also be sent to a customer center or similar store that can handle printer problems. If the server daemon can confirm that the paper is empty, the information may be sent to a particular store / person, for example, including placing a lot of paper on a printer or the like.

In addition, the system constantly checks the database if the printer requires manual inspection. If you find a printer to be checked immediately, do not wait for the next printer to be checked normally. Instead, run the check immediately. For example, this is done if it is reported that the client cannot connect to the printer.

In FIG. 7, when the server daemon detects that the queue is not operating, a flowchart of communication between the server and the client is shown.

Redundancy

In order to handle shutdown of the ticket server, the network preferably comprises at least two ticket servers. In order to obtain a clear transfer from one server to another, all data need to be duplicated between ticket servers when shut down for some reason as described above. This can be done by redundant techniques.

The client may offer the possibility of choosing one of the ticket servers to cooperate with the ticket server.

3. Detailed Description of Client

In the system, the main program and the plurality of subprograms are configured to form a client according to the client's operating system. The main program is modified to process several print jobs simultaneously and to process the correct information for accurate printing. In addition, the program has a function for displaying information on the status of each print job and a dialog window having important information when something having one or several print jobs is generated.

When a client initiates a print job, that is, requests a program to send a print job to a printer preinstalled for printing, the main program takes over. The conversation then follows with the ticket server.

The client program starts with a request to obtain approval from the ticket server. This is done via RPC, blocking sockets or nonblocking sockets. The data is transmitted in hexadecimal notation, minimizing the size of the message and transformed by the XOR algorithm.

In the first conversation with the server, the following information is transmitted (step 3-1 in FIG. 3).

□ Sequence Number

□ Client version number

□ Operating system

□ Printer driver version

□ Printer Name

□ User Domain

□ User Name

A response from the server is received (steps 3-5), which includes the following.

□ Sequence Number

□ Job ID

If the client version of the printer driver and / or client program software is too old or unauthenticated, the error code sequence will replace the sequence (steps 3-4). The order has the following information.

□ Sequence Number

□ Error code

If this occurs, the client software will download the correct version of the driver or client software from the server.
For example, if a version of client software for a client is stored and several versions of the client software are compared by the server such that the stored client software is newer than the client software used by the client, a copy of the stored client software. It is either sent to or installed on the client.

The client spools the print job according to the size of either the memory or catalog on the computer's local hard disk drive. When a print job is spooled to a memory or hard disk drive, additional information about the print job is sent to the server. The print job may be confirmed when the print job is printing, in association with the job ID received by the server.

The following information is sent from the client to the server (steps 3-6).

□ Sequence Number

□ IP-address

□ number of pages

□ number of bytes

Thereafter, acknowledgment of the information is received from the server, and the first conversation part is completed (steps 3-8).

Then no additional data is sent between the client and server until the client's print job is waiting to be printed or until the printer is no longer accessible.

If the client is not on a NAT network, close the TCP / IP connection to the server (steps 3-14).

When printing begins, the server starts a new conversation with the client. This conversation begins by receiving the following information from the server (step 6-3 in FIG. 6).

□ Sequence Number

□ Job ID

□ Printer's IP Address

□ Printer connection to which print job is to be sent-Type of connection

The client sends a confirmation back to the server that received the information and starts printing directly to the printer (steps 6-4). Only the following sequence numbers are sent.

□ Sequence Number

If the client cannot send a print job or something occurs such that the print job cannot be completed, the new order is sent with the corrected error code (steps 6-9). This information is as follows.

□ Sequence Number

□ Error code

In printing, a method of transmitting updated status information from the client as described above with reference to FIG. 2 may be used (not shown here).

When preparing to print (if printing will be ready), the client sends a new order to the ticket server indicating that printing is complete (steps 6-12). This sequence is as follows.

□ Sequence Number

□ Job ID

When the client interrupts the print job, the following procedure is transmitted from the client to the server (step 4-1 in Fig. 4).

□ Sequence Number

□ Job ID

□ Error code

The data is processed by the server (step 4-2), and the print job is canceled from the database. After the client receives a command for canceling the print job from the server (step 4-3), the client cancels the print job from the memory or the hard disk drive (step 4-4).

4. Alternatives to printers used as shared resources in accordance with the present invention

While the preferred embodiment has been described in connection with the use of a printer connected to a network, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to this. More generally, the printer can be replaced with a shared resource connected to the network. In this case, the print queue is replaced with a queue for use of the shared resource, the print job is replaced with the job to be sent to the shared resource, and the print is replaced to send the job. For example, a shared resource may be a shared resource for storing data on a transmitter shared on a network such as a fax machine, a display unit shared on a network such as a digital projection device, or a data storage medium on a network such as a CD or DVD recorder. Can be. After appropriate modifications, the above description is applicable to such shared resource devices.

5. Advantages of Technology

Advantages of the present invention include in particular the following advantages.

□ Reduced network load. The present invention reduces the need for network capacity because the processed work is always stored on the client before being sent to the shared resource. Jobs are always sent directly to shared resources, so there is no need for intermediate storage on the server.

□ Scalability. The present invention is scalable and adapts to medium size for large enterprises. Because the product requires less internal bandwidth, the product is beneficial to multinational companies. For example, each server has the capacity to process 20000 queues and 100,000 jobs simultaneously.

Low load on the server provides faster use of shared resources.

□ Require less hard disk drive space for the server.

Centralized management and organization. Centralized solutions offer many possibilities for obtaining efficient cost and monitoring activation that provide minimal use of shared resources.

□ Flexibility. The present invention can be used by most operating systems in today's market that are flexible and supported by products of shared resources. The solution can be applied to new situations without any interference. Additional modules may be present and executed.

Automated distribution and updating of drivers, especially for shared resources. When new kinds of shared resources are available on the market, or when new drivers are released, these new ones will be distributed and then tested across the complete network. Patching and updating components in the system performs the same procedure.

□ Check and test. All components and drivers are verified and tested before being implemented in the client's environment.

□ Accessibility. Redundant use provides high accessibility.

□ Remote monitoring and support. Monitoring of shared resources provides paper and toner, particularly where the shared resources are printers and available to the management interface. This facilitates the planning of maintenance of the shared resources, especially when the shared resources are printers, to minimize toner and paper replenishment of the enterprise to minimize shutdown time for the shared resources.

□ Economics. The present invention is simple to implement and has low demands on hardware, software and network capacity.

Expenses and the use of shared resources can be monitored for all levels, such as clients, stores, groups or shared resources.

The invention is not explicitly limited to the above-described preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (33)

A method of controlling and monitoring a server sending a job from a client connected to a network to a shared resource connected to the network, the method comprising: (a) receiving a request signal from the client connected to the network to allow transmission of a job to a selected shared resource connected to the network; And (b) continuously checking whether a shared resource connected to the network is accessible and has the capacity to receive a current job; Here, if the selected shared resource is accessible and has a capacity for receiving a current job, a progress signal is immediately transmitted to a client capable of transmitting a direct job to the selected shared resource, If a shared resource connected to the network is accessible but there is insufficient capacity to receive a current job, the request signal is placed in a queue for the selected shared resource, and the queue is constantly updated. The request signal is sent to the first position in the queue, and when the selected shared resource has the capacity to receive the job, a progress signal is sent to a client capable of direct transmission of the job to the selected shared resource, If the selected shared resource is inaccessible, the client is notified of inaccessibility, After receiving the request signal (step (a)), (c) assigning an identity to the task is followed, wherein the identity is notified to the client and the identity is directed to the selected shared resource. It is included in the progress signal sent to the client that can transmit the job, so that the client can identify the job based on the identity, Acknowledgment of the fact that the task was successfully completed by the shared resource or an indication of the fact that the task was not successfully completed by the shared resource is received from a client, after which the request signal is removed from the queue. How to. The method of claim 1, Updated status information regarding completion of a job by the shared resource is repeatedly received from the client, and a time point when the progress signal is transmitted to the client and confirmation of the fact that the job is successfully completed by the shared resource or Between the time points at which an indication of the fact that the job was not successfully completed by the shared resource is received from the client, wherein the absence of updated status information is caused by an operation error of the client or the client. A communication error in communication between servers. The method according to claim 1 or 2, And a confirmation signal is received by the server that the assigned identity has been received by the client. The method according to claim 1 or 2, And a confirmation signal received by the server that the progress signal has been received by the client. The method of claim 4, wherein The acknowledgment signal is an acknowledgment signal that the job is transmitted to the shared resource directly or in the future. The method according to claim 1 or 2, And wherein the shared resource is a printer and the job is a print job. The method of claim 6, The shared resource is a transmitter, a display unit, or a device for storing data, wherein the task is a task for transmitting, displaying or storing data. The method of claim 1, Information on the state of the shared resource is transmitted to the client. The method according to claim 1 or 2, Any version of client software for the client relating to communication with the selected shared resource is stored, Information regarding the version of the client software is received from the client, Various versions of the client software are compared by the server, If the stored client software is newer than the client software used by the client as a result of the comparison, a copy of the stored client software is sent to or installed on the client. The method of claim 9, And information about the version of the client software used by the client is received with a request signal to allow transmission of the job to the selected shared resource. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The request signal for allowing the transmission of the job to the selected shared resource includes the user domain and the user identity for the client. The client is checked to have an authorization to send a job to the selected shared resource, If the client does not have an authorization to send a job to the selected shared resource, an error code is sent to the client. The method of claim 11, If the client has authentication to allow the transfer of the job to the selected shared resource, then the client is checked to have a user priority, The request signal is written to the queue according to a user priority of the client. The method according to claim 1 or 2, Information of the size of the job is received from the client. The method of claim 13, When an acknowledgment that the assigned identity has been received by the client is received by the server, information of the size of the task is received together with an acknowledgment that the assigned identity has been received. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The status of the shared resources in the network is constantly checked. The method according to claim 1 or 2, Information about the status of shared resources, information about queues, and information about clients and jobs in the network is continuously copied to a second server that controls and monitors the dispatch of jobs. A computer-readable recording medium having a downloadable computer program in a server internal memory, And a software code portion for executing the method of claim 1 when said computer program is run on said server. A server comprising a computer readable recording medium having the computer program of claim 17. A method for sending a job by a client connected to a network to a shared resource selected by a client among several shared resources connected to the network, the method comprising: (A) The client sends a request signal to a server that controls and monitors the sending of a job to a shared resource connected to the network to allow direct transmission of the job to the selected shared resource connected to the network. Transmitting, wherein the server assigns an identity to the job, thereby placing the request signal in a queue for the selected shared resource, continuously updating the queue, and Transmitting a request signal to the client to provide a progress signal to the client when a job is sent to the selected shared resource; (B) receiving a message of the identity from the server; (C) preparing and storing the work; (D) receiving a progress signal from the server that allows the task to be sent to the selected shared resource, wherein the progress signal identifies the identity that allows the task to be identified based on the identity. Receiving the above progress signal from the server comprising; (E) directly transmitting a job to the selected shared resource; And (F) receiving the request from the queue by receiving from the selected shared resource an acknowledgment of the fact that the task was successfully completed by the shared resource or an indication of the fact that the task was not successfully completed by the shared resource. Forwarding the confirmation or indication to the server to enable removal of the signal Shipping method of the job comprising a. The method of claim 19, Updated status information regarding completion of the work by the shared resource is repeatedly transmitted to the server, and receiving the progress signal from the server (step D); and the work is successfully completed by the shared resource. An acknowledgment of the thing or an indication that the task has not been successfully completed by the shared resource is repeatedly sent to the server between steps (step F) of being received from the shared resource and returned to the server, wherein the server The absence of the updated status information on the client indicates an operation error of the client or a communication error in communication between the client and the server. The method of claim 19 or 20, And a confirmation signal indicating that the message of the assigned identity has been received is transmitted to the server. The method of claim 19 or 20, And a confirmation signal indicating that a progress signal capable of transmitting the job to the selected shared resource is transmitted to the server. 23. The method of claim 22, And a confirmation signal that the progress signal has been received is a confirmation signal that the job has been or will be transmitted to the shared resource. The method of claim 19 or 20, And wherein the shared resource is a printer and the job is a print job. The method of claim 24, The shared resource is a transmitter, a display unit, or a device for storing data, and the job is a job for transmitting, displaying or storing data. The method of claim 19 or 20, Information about client software that the client uses to communicate with the selected shared resource is sent to the server, If the copy of the client software stored by the server has a more recent version number than the version number of the client software being used by the client, the copy is received from the server. The method of claim 26, Information regarding the version of the client software used by the client is sent to the server with the request signal to allow the transfer of the job to the selected shared resource. The method of claim 19 or 20, The request signal for allowing the transmission of a job to the selected shared resource includes a user domain and a user identity for the client, If the client does not have an authorization to send the job to the selected shared resource, an error code is received from the server. The method of claim 19 or 20, The job sending method, characterized in that information of the size of the job is transmitted to the server. The method of claim 29, When the acknowledgment that the message of the assigned identity has been received is transmitted to the server, the information of the size of the task is transmitted to the server together with the acknowledgment that the assigned identity has been received. Way. A computer-readable recording medium having a downloadable computer program in a server internal memory, A computer readable recording medium having a computer program, when the computer program is executed on the server, includes software code portions for executing the method according to claim 19. A client terminal comprising a computer readable recording medium having the computer program of claim 31. A network system comprising a server according to claim 18 and a plurality of client terminals as described in claim 32.

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